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Outdoor Cinema this summer in Barcelona at Montjuic
Montjuic is a treasure trove, flanked by the Palace Museum of Art, the Ethnographic Museum surrounded by pleasant gardens, a botanical garden and topped by ancient fortified castle originally constructed in1640 now employed as a military museum, Every year the beautiful natural area of Montjuic is filled with cultural activities both for those who inhabit this city and for the thousands of visitors who walk its streets in the warm days during the summer. Theatre, music, dance, sports all attract people to this emblematic and symbolic corner of Barcelona One of the most successful events is its animated cycle of Open Air Cinema. The program doesn’t just focus on film, but also but a fair mix of music, film and the possibility for visitors to Barcelona apartments to share a moment of leisure and relaxation in a pleasant natural environment. Each time the cycle starts at about 21:00 pm with a varied musical program that lasts an hour followed by the projection on the side of Montjuic Castle of both classic and modern movies. During August, the program consists of three projections. The first of these is the film Revolutionary Road, which will be screened on Monday August 2nd. This film by American director Sam Mendes is set in the 50´s and features stunning acting by mega-stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet as a young couple who must fight for their ideals. The second is the director Matteo Garrone´s controversial film Gomorra which will be shown on Wednesday, August 4th. It exposes all the corrupt networks and the powerful connections of the Italian Camorra. To end the month of...
Unplug and tune in: one day off the grid
We´re called the Wired Generation. But are we addicted to our devices? What did we do in our spare time before surfing the net from our phones became a way to kill time waiting for the train? We decided to find out. 4pm Take one last look at Facebook before shutting down the laptop. Check that I know the PIN for the mobile before shutting it off. Kiss music goodbye for a while and put the iPod to sleep. Alright, all set for a day unplugged. I mean, come on, how hard can it be??! 4.30pm Out of pure habit, flick on iPod. Dammit, have to start all over again. 4.30pm Put iPod in backpack… If it´s close to hand, will accidentally turn it on again. Pocket feels empty without it and I keep wondering if I have lost something. 6.30pm Waiting at the train station. Hands keep reaching for mobile and iPod. Must look like some kind of twitching pick-pocket. Check the station clock – has it really only been 40 seconds since I checked it last time? 7.30pm Longest train ride of my life. Staring out the window with nothing to listen to except the sounds of other people´s annoying music pumping out of headphones and mobiles. Must get a book… 8pm There´s a party going on that I didn´t know about. Facebook invitations and SMS follow-ups. Let me repeat this: There is a party going on that I DIDN´T KNOW ABOUT. Feel hollow, and empty. What else have I missed? 9.30pm Made it home with a quick trip to the library for a real book. Forgot...Old predictions for the future actually turned out to be true
In the last article talked about people´s predictions for the year 2050. There will be robots that do everything and we will all be elderly cyborgs who survived World War III. Maybe! History shows that the predictions people make tend to be surprisingly accurate…. In 1900, a magazine asked its readers to send in their predictions about the future. For example, they imagined that houses would be climatized with hot air and cold air that came through pipes. Although they didn´t correctly imagine the form the technology we know today would take, they knew perfectly well that there would be air conditioning. Many more of their predictions have come true since then, even before they imagined they would, for better or worse. Sometimes what we dream of for the future isn´t what´s best for us, even if it is feasible. For example, these readers thought the cars would be much more common than horses, and horses become a cult object for the wealthy. Now, we see that our forefathers were right, but the price of progress is that we are suffering a great economic and ecological crisis because of our dependence on oil and cars, not to mention a health crisis caused by living a much more sedentary lifestyle than our ancestors lived. They also thought that photography would become a part of everyday life, and capable of representing the day´s events almost instantly. They also saw the possibility of live television broadcasts, or as they said “People will be able to see what´s happening in the world from anywhere else” Thanks to the Internet and television, we are...
Innovative sculptures by Subodh Gupta in Vienna
In the public space of Vienna Kunsthalle Wien Karlsplatz we can admire the wonderful sculpture “Et tu, Duchamp? Subodh Gupta´s innovative interpretation of the original work LHOOQ (1919) of the famous French artist Marcel Duchamp, in which we can appreciate the Mona Lisa with a moustache and beard like a goat. The bronze sculpture is black and large. Subodh Khagaul was born in 1964, in Bihar, India. He is one of the most celebrated artists of this city. He studied at the College of Art in Patna. He later moved to New Delhi, where he lives and works. His works include painting, video, sculpture, photography, installations, etc… His sculptures are known for using everyday utensils and objects from India, such as milk containers, cooking pots, bicycles, oil, brass, bronze, cow dung, etc… His work is an evolving reflection of experiences and history. For example in one of his works he used the luggage trolleys found in airports. In all his works we see the duality between poverty and wealth, the old, (like the items you use) and modern (as is his art), rural and urban. Just to clarify, cow dung is a very important element in India and in his work. It is used among many other things for fuel, construction and to repel insects. This great genius has had many solo shows and group exhibitions in many parts of Asia, Europe and America. Do not miss this great opportunity. Rent apartments in Vienna to enjoy this magnificent sculpture until October 31 and walk through this beautiful...
Hedwig and the Angry Inch Channels the Ghost of Glam Rock: PART 2
We talked in an earlier article on the cult phenomenon inspired by the musical and the movie “Hedwig and the Angry Inch”, similar in some respects to the fan movement that sprang up around “Rocky Horror Picture Show.” In both cases the impact of the film was such that shortly after its premiere, fan clubs that regularly projected the film and sang while dressed as glamorously as their favourite characters got together. In the case of Hedwig, diehard fans of the film are called “Hedheads”, a nickname probably related to Hedwig´s huge blonde wig … In effect, during the film Hedwig´s fans appear at her concerts are with huge yellow polystyrene wigs as they pay tribute to Hedwig. Hedwig´s own name could have been chosen as a play on words, as “head wig ” literally means “wig “. At the Hedwig parties that happen worldwide, it is customary to project the film and dance and sing to the popular songs in the room, both during the projection as well as in some kind of karaoke later. There are usually hundreds of colourful gummy bears, like those in an important scene from the movie … Overall Hedwig parties are fun events, very frantic and crazy, which revive the glam spirit of this playful and transgressive movie. In Barcelona there are places that occasionally organize screenings of “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” especially in alternative venues such as the Scorpion´s Nest http://www.nidodelescorpion.com, a basement of Raval in the recently held a full-fledged Hedwig party, complete with a screening of the film, good music, many costumes and a truly memorable performance by...
Hedwig and the angry inch channel the ghost of glam rock
Platform shoes, feather boas, exotic hairstyles and kilos of glitter … What do you get when you mix these ingredients, with good music and spice everything up with a spoonful of sexual ambiguity? Glam rock was a genre in which over the top stars like Marc Bolan, David Bowie-Ziggy Stardust and David Johansen triumphed. But if we could choose from among the glam of imaginary characters created by film and theatre, Hedwig, star of the cult film “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” would certainly be elected to the pantheon of Glam… The Hedwig phenomenon was born in 1998 as an off-Broadway musical, written by John Cameron Mitchell with music by Stephen Trask. The musical tells the story of Hedwig, a transsexual singer and the leader of glam-rock group called “The Angry Inch.” Hedwig monologues and songs explain his childhood as Hansel in East Berlin, a few years before the Wall fell, his youth in the U.S. after a disastrous sex change operation and a frustrated marriage, and his adulthood as a singer who relentlessly pursues Tommy Gnosis, a hugely successful rocker who may have stolen her songs … In 2001, the musical became a film, with the help of the John Cameron Mitchell, and shortly after its release it went on to win multiple awards, including the International Film Festival in Berlin and the Audience Award at Sundance. And, more importantly, it found favour among a large group of fans worldwide, who began to hold parties during which they masquerade as their favourite characters and sing along to the most popular songs (“The origin of love”, “Tear me down...
What we dream will happen in 2050
Clairvoyance is not a very exact science, in fact it’s not a science at all. But people keep making predictions about the future, because it is our nature to want to know and prepare for what might happen. According to a recent study, the life of the future will be very different from life as we know it today. The respondents feel that: 66% of people said that artificial arms and legs will be more powerful than natural arms and legs. Given that 58% believe that there will be another world war or nuclear attack before 2050, chances are, you will have an artificial limb if you survive until 2050. If these predictions seem very pessimistic, comfort yourself knowing that 71% of people say a cure for cancer will have been found by 2050. Economic conditions will be worse, according to the 58% who say the gap between rich and poor will increase. 86% believed that retirement age will be at age 70 years or even later. And that’s if a computer or a robot isn’t already doing your job … Science will advance to the point where robots and computers will be indistinguishable from people, according to 81% of the people. To find out all these changes, will have to read about it in a blog or see it on some sort of electronic device, because the respondents were pretty sure that paper news is about to go the way of the dinosaur. The best part of the future? We may have space alien friends, or go on holiday in a spaceship. When I read this survey, I...
African flavour in Vienna
The motto is “17 days of happiness” and July marks the kick-off of the sixth edition of African Days in Vienna. This amazing festival is dedicated to promoting African culture in all its forms: from dance, to art, music, cuisine and more. In this way, the festival serves as a spectacular space for this huge continent and its cultural richness, and to bring some African flavour to the Austrian capital. In addition, it promotes cross-cultural communication between African and Austrian cultures -and provides a space to find commonalities, as well as enhance understanding and mutual respect. More than 30 ships arrived laden with exquisite tastes, arts and crafts brought in from all corners of the continent, which can be found in a large bazaar as part of the festival. During the festival we can get closer to this delightful culture, smelling, looking, touching and feeling. Sean masks, Maasai Jewellery, Touareg figures, textiles, ceramics and works of art – we will witness a culture firmly rooted in its traditions, but, in turn, adapting itself to contemporary trends. The festival will also feature performances by the most important contemporary artists on the continent, as well as African inspired groups from Germany and Austria, and even a performance by legendary soul and funk diva Glenn Marla, will captivate us with such great songs as “It´s a man´s world.” There will be many more events and parties like the “Habana” tent which will be open daily from 22h. In addition, the festival features several events and activities for younger children, such as exciting camel riding tours, dance courses, courses in painting and crafts,...
Juergen Teller Show in Madrid
While strolling around Madrid I saw a photo of Juergen Teller with British actress Charlotte Rampling. He is naked and sprawled on a piano while she plays the piano. He was in Spain recently to inaugurate his exhibition “Calves & Things” at the PhotoEspaña festival Born in Erlangen, Germany in 1964, he studied at the Bayerische Staatslehranstalt für Photograhie of Munich and in 1986 he moved to London which is where he currently resides. He is well known as fashion photographer and has portrayed celebrities like Naomi Campbell and Cindy Sherman and has worked for major brands such as Marc Jacobs or Yves Saint Laurent. He has a reputation for being a bit rude and aggressive, and is known for being a povocative exhibitionist. This celebrated artist discovered one day that it was more interesting for him to photograph himself than others and has done it consistently since 2000. In this exhibition we will see some 140 works by this renowned creator, divided over two floors. On the ground floor you will find collections such as “Go Sees”, “Louis XV” and “Paradis” in which Teller appears with Parisian models, posing completely naked in compromising positions. Charlotte Rampling will also see his naked walk through the Louvre. Upstairs there is a series of portraits, along with books, articles and a video. Among these portraits we can see as a naked Juergen Teller is shaved in a bathroom, Victoria Beckham´s legs poking out of a Marc Jacobs bag, and the famous model Kate Moss. In the video “Do not Suffer to much”, he is watching the final of the 2002 World...
